King Lear
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Robert Quinlan
Ewing Theatre
Synopsis
Strained relations between a father and his daughters are at the core of Shakespeare’s explosive tragedy, King Lear. In this tale of intimate family drama and political manipulation, an aged leader at the height of his power and influence, loses his grip on position, power, family, and sanity when hubris and ego trump love and loyalty. Lear examines the most basic questions of human existence and is considered one the most powerful dramas in Western literature.
- Performance Dates and Time
- Dramaturgical Notes
- Artists & Cast
- Reviews
| Friday, July 8 (Preview) | 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 9 (Opening Night) | 8 p.m. |
| Sunday, July 10 (Pre-show Talk at 6 p.m.) | 7:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, July 14 (Post-show Talk-Back) | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, July 15 | 8 p.m. |
| Tuesday, July 19 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, July 22 | 8 p.m. |
| Wednesday, July 27 (ASL-Interpreted Performance) | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 30 | 8 p.m. |
| Sunday, July 31 | 7:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, August 4 | 7:30 p.m. |
Cheat sheet:
King Lear Cheat Sheet
Created by Dramaturg Kee-Yoon Nahm, this cheat sheet features character descriptions, character relationships, and a synopsis of the play.
Dramaturgy articles:
King Lear
Beyond the Stage Interview: A full experience of life and the soul
Festival Dramaturg Kee-Yoon Nahm speaks with Associate Artistic Director Robert Quinlan about his upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival ISF.
Beyond the Stage: Wherefore base?
Festival Dramaturg Kee-Yoon Nahm discusses the plight of illegitimate children in Shakespeare’s plays, focusing on Edmund in King Lear.
King Lear and Much Ado About Nothing
Beyond the Stage: On nothing
This article explores the theme of “nothingness” across the two Shakespeare plays in ISF’s 2022 season: Much Ado about Nothing and King Lear.
Beyond the Stage: Shakespeare’s good friars
Festival Dramaturg Kee-Yoon Nahm writes about Shakespeare’s use of friars as characters in his plays.
Please visit Dramaturgy for more articles.
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Please stay tuned for reviews. Thank you.